The Swamp

brian wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2019 9:22 pm Have you every really just sat somewhere unconventional for a whole hour and just observed everything? Like a park bench or something? It’s amazing.

Sorry Brian. Forrest Gump has already been written.

I had to give up my $20 disposable vape end with only 50 percent juice left in for a show I paid $100 for after winning $160 at the casino and I’m still somehow spinning out about it. So that’s where I’m at tonight.

Girl Scout Cookie Controversy.

There is a big discussion going on this morning at work (i got here 15 minutes ago). A guy on my floor brought in girl scout cookies this morning and sent an email to all staff. A director (lady) just came down from the executive floor and told him to get that shit out of here.

Should parents sell their daughter's girl scout cookies at work?

Probably it should be advertised through word of mouth or a sign on your office door/cube. Email makes it a little pushy.

But I'm no employment lawyer. Syb?

Completely acceptable here in my office. Could understand if it isn't, though that's the sort of thing that should be clearly explained somewhere.

Yeah, when I wore a suit, I seem to recall you could not (company) email any announcements about any extra-curricular stuff like that, unless it was endorsed by the company itself.

This was stuff you'd see a signup sheet for in the kitchen.

The signup sheet in a common area is how my office works. Lets the people who want to see it see it and everyone else can ignore.

mister d wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:30 am The signup sheet in a common area is how my office works. Lets the people who want to see it see it and everyone else can ignore.

This is the way it goes down around here.

Yeah, it's borderline to be selling your kids shit at work, but "culturally" or "socially" acceptable if you go the "post a sign up sheet" outside your office/cube or maybe in the kitchen/break room. Emailing something out forces the higher ups/HR to take a formal stance on it.

Kind of like how you can get away with a March Madness pool or Super Bowl squares if it's word of mouth, but if your dumb ass uses corporate email to advertise, you deserve what you get.

My dog tried to sell me Amway one time and I contacted HR immediately.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:37 am Yeah, it's borderline to be selling your kids shit at work, but "culturally" or "socially" acceptable if you go the "post a sign up sheet" outside your office/cube or maybe in the kitchen/break room. Emailing something out forces the higher ups/HR to take a formal stance on it.

Kind of like how you can get away with a March Madness pool or Super Bowl squares if it's word of mouth, but if your dumb ass uses corporate email to advertise, you deserve what you get.

Yes. I run an NHL Box pool in the office but I cleared it with the Executive Director and the Director of HR and they're in the pool!

There's now gossip going on. Saying "guy should not sell cookies here. It's the job of the girls to sell it. i would buy it from 6 year olds selling at the supermarket, not from a man." on and on... makes for an eventful Monday morning.

Eh what's this I hear aboot you selling cookies for the girl scout organ-i-zation what are ya a lady?

I sometimes to have to remember Canadians also have some of the "hur dur Breitbart" types (especially in Alberta, no offense) and it's a little jarring.

brian wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:50 am I sometimes to have to remember Canadians also have some of the "hur dur Breitbart" types (especially in Alberta, no offense) and it's a little jarring.

While that's true. I don't know about that in this case. Apparently, the director gave the guy a lecture about how the girls needs to sell the cookies to promote teamwork, self-confidence, responsibility and entrepreneurship. She compared it to parents running the girl's lemonade stand.

If anything, that's feminism.

Anyways, gossip travels fast around here. It's a slow Monday.

Maybe the director needs a lecture about the value in multiple, non-competing revenue streams?

I think it's fine, but only if the parents go to work in scoutface

I mean, it's presumptuous of the director to assume the kid is ONLY selling via her parent at work. That said, it is definitely a sign of the times where girls don't go door to door or set up shop outside of the grocery store as much as they used to.

The fundraising is some bullshit that mostly exploits young girls for free labor. I have no problems with girls and their parents trying for the easiest possible solution.

I don't get why a company executive would get upset not about using company-wide email, but about somehow not following Girl Scout rules.

Its not really unpaid, they get a portion back to fund an event.



(Not that I'm defending any kind of scouts. They signed up when I was at a baseball game knowing I would have pushed back.)

L-Jam3 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:23 am Probably it should be advertised through word of mouth or a sign on your office door/cube. Email makes it a little pushy.

But I'm no employment lawyer. Syb?

Much more of a policy/HR issue than employment law. Dege, you work in a government position, right? I'm sure they have ethics policies around that. At a minimum, supervisors should be prohibited from selling to direct reports, as they might feel pressured into buying.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 11:47 am

L-Jam3 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:23 am Probably it should be advertised through word of mouth or a sign on your office door/cube. Email makes it a little pushy.

But I'm no employment lawyer. Syb?

Much more of a policy/HR issue than employment law. Dege, you work in a government position, right? I'm sure they have ethics policies around that. At a minimum, supervisors should be prohibited from selling to direct reports, as they might feel pressured into buying.

Yup, Government of Alberta under the Ministry of Finance.

I'm sure the executives aren't happy about the email and acted upon it. The lady director giving a lecture was bonus. She probably volunteered to be the messenger to do that.

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:32 am

mister d wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:30 am The signup sheet in a common area is how my office works. Lets the people who want to see it see it and everyone else can ignore.

This is the way it goes down around here.

I thought it worked that way everywhere.

We have a "non-work announcement" blog. GS cookies, cars for sale, that sort of thing. You can subscribe or just visit.

Last year at cookie time there was a girl going around campus with a big ass wagon filled with cookies and a Square card reader on her phone!

(also a couple of girls posted up outside dispensaries.)

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 11:17 am I mean, it's presumptuous of the director to assume the kid is ONLY selling via her parent at work. That said, it is definitely a sign of the times where girls don't go door to door or set up shop outside of the grocery store as much as they used to.

When February rolls around, I can share with you my daughter's cookie-selling schedule (and she spent her brother's soccer game Saturday selling candy and nuts for their fall sale). My wife (assistant troop leader and cookie organizer for the district our whatever they call it) makes her not work every storefront booth. We have also sold cookies in our driveway on some of the nicer winter days to catch people in the neighborhood driving home from work.

By the way, if anyone has a desire for some Girl Scout cookies after this discussion, there are a half dozen boxes in the fridge in our basement.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 11:17 am I mean, it's presumptuous of the director to assume the kid is ONLY selling via her parent at work. That said, it is definitely a sign of the times where girls don't go door to door or set up shop outside of the grocery store as much as they used to.

It's clear you don't live in my town. When it's cookie season, the girl scouts go door-to-door here and are camped in front of every grocery store and coffee shop in town.

We don’t get much door to door but definitely at the grocery stores a lot.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 6:23 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 11:17 am I mean, it's presumptuous of the director to assume the kid is ONLY selling via her parent at work. That said, it is definitely a sign of the times where girls don't go door to door or set up shop outside of the grocery store as much as they used to.

It's clear you don't live in my town. When it's cookie season, the girl scouts go door-to-door here and are camped in front of every grocery store and coffee shop in town.

I live in the most suburb-y suburbs that ever suburbed. Never had a girl trying to scout me some cookies. It's weird, frankly.

People who pontificate on politics in an off-leash park are - to use a harsh term - complete idiots.

Pruitt wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:28 am People who pontificate on politics in an off-leash park are - to use a harsh term - complete idiots.

Sounds like someone had to deal with a Tory this morning!

brian wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:48 am

Pruitt wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:28 am People who pontificate on politics in an off-leash park are - to use a harsh term - complete idiots.

Sounds like someone had to deal with a Tory this morning!

You must be psychic!

Basically, the union representing support staff in the Toronto School Board were going to strike on Monday. Every public school would therefore be closed.

Strike averted at midnight Sunday. Second straight day this idiot started conversations with "How come Doug Ford (Ontario's IDIOT Premier) doesn;t get credit for stopping the strike?"

Reality is, the Province made huge cuts in the money given to local school boards, forcing them to cut staff, hours, layoff thousands of teachers etc. So the only reason these workers felt the need to strike is because their pay was staying the same while workloads were rising.

But you know, at 8:00 in the morning, there's no point using logic and facts. One of these guys that think teaching is an easy gig because you get the summer off.

Greetings to all from Kranepool. Had lunch with him today.

I hope you kept your caiman away from him.

bfj wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2019 11:44 am Greetings to all from Kranepool. Had lunch with him today.

bfj, please share my response with him. He'll appreciate it.

The phrase "make him look like a beet" is making me giggle.

tennbengal wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2019 12:54 pm The phrase "make him look like a beet" is making me giggle.

Brian is on the propaganda. Why a beet? Trying to tie him in with the Soviets I suppose.

Rush2112 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2019 1:39 pm

tennbengal wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2019 12:54 pm The phrase "make him look like a beet" is making me giggle.

Brian is on the propaganda. Why a beet? Trying to tie him in with the Soviets I suppose.

It was Bronto who said it. I was repeating his (good) line.

I don’t know who the young man was who picked up the neighbors daughter just now, but when she opened the door he was blasting Van Halen so I assume he’s an awesome dude.

Pre- or Post-MCMLXXXIV?

Ain’t talking bout love. David lee Roth or gtfo!


(I think it’s been mentioned before but it’s basically two completely different bands with Roth v Hagar and both have their strong points. But I will I’ll most always pick DLR)